And hello, dear readers! For the wait, you get a longer chapter than usual! I hope you guys dig it! I've been trying to hammer out the timeline fully as I go at this fanfic, so keep me posted if months suddenly change in story without warning!

Enjoy today's chapter!

####

Seeing Milla's smile was heart warming as it was heart wrenching, Sasha only able to clutch the door awkwardly as he she stood on the stoop of his apartment building. The dull porch light casting a strange glow over her features and stretching her shadow across the pavement behind her. Her words accusatory even with her smile. "You've been avoiding me,"

There was no point in lying, not now. "Yes,"

"Are you embarrassed, darling?"

"Slightly," He moved aside to let her in. Milla calmly striding forward as she headed towards his room down the hall. Sasha closing the main entry way with more force than necessary. Feeling a mixture of embarrassment and shame since she had pretty much ended this whole thing by coming over to his home. He uncertainly watched Milla let herself in, she vanishing into his apartment for a moment before poking her head back out. Raising a single eye brow back at him in a silent question.

The German man sighed, making his way down the hallway to his apartment. He stepping into his home, feeling more like a guest as Milla closed and locked the door after he entered. She reaching out to touch him on the shoulder, making the lanky man turn around to face her. "Darling, I told you. I wasn't mad at you,"

"I know you weren't, it doesn't make it any easier,"

"You were nervous and felt rushed," She offered back, automatically moving to lean against him a little. Her weight was a comforting one, though he felt too edgy to really return the half embrace she was giving to him. He finding himself babbling honestly back at her. "I'm not old, Milla. I should have been able to keep going,"

"Dear, you never had sex before. You've told me that much. When it is your first time, you never last that long during sex. It is a rule of thumb," She offered him a loving squeeze as she continued on, "Besides I certainly wasn't helping you as much as I should have. I was just so caught up in how romantic it was,"

Sasha could only uncomfortably stay still as she held onto him. "It was romantic," He feeling incredibly stupid since he couldn't manage anything more intelligent. Milla didn't seem particularly put off by his fumbling as she continued. "Lets take it slower next time, darling."

"Yes, that, would be good," The more he opened his mouth, the more Sasha felt like an idiot. Milla just hugged him again, "Let me stay the night, no sex- just lets stay together?"

"Certainly,"

"You know I missed you- I just got so used to being with you everyday,"

"Same here," He finally returned her embrace, leaning slightly into the woman as they stood together. He pulling away after a moment, "I'll find you something you can wear tonight,"

"I don't need anything fancy, dear. Just a baggy t-shirt if you have any extras,"

"Of course," He found himself softly smiling back at her. Relief palatable and there as the two easily found their footing again. Sasha finding a t-shirt for Milla with a cartoon cat on the front and baggy pajama bottoms. The woman readily accepted the pajama's, laughing a little as Sasha quickly whipped around when she started to unzip the side of her dress. The flash of skin making the German man go red almost immediately. Milla murmured an easy comment that he had seen her naked before as she made her way to the bathroom to finish changing.

Her brief absence left Sasha to settle down on the bed, he nervously crossing his arms over his chest. He staring at the muted colors of his walls contemplating what was said tonight. It looked like Eddie had been right. Some part of Sasha knew that, but he hadn't wanted to actually discuss the issue with Milla. He had hoped if he ignored it and her, his problem would magically go away. Clearly that hadn't been the case, if anything it had backfired on him. He had been miserable all week, just as Milla had.

The sound of the bathroom door opening drew his attention back to Milla, a small smile appearing on his lips when she came out of the bathroom. She easily making her way over to Sasha, a much warmer smile curled across her lips in response to his tense smile. Milla quietly joined him on the bed, taking Sasha's hand in her own. The two sitting shoulder to shoulder, Milla eventually moving to rest her cheek against his shoulder with an easy smile.

####

The return to what was considered normalcy warranted an exhale of relief from most of the Psychonauts. They may not be able to prod around each other's minds during office hours, but they were adept at picking up certain things from body language, voice and actions. A solid portion of the staff after all had been trained to see things more clearly even if they never became field agents.

Even if the 'fight' had been small one, a week of hiding on Sasha's part, it had still been a strain on everything.

Andrea wasn't supremely surprised, she knew Sasha by now. The man was strange and awkward if anything past his cool demeanor. It was why she hassled him when she could, she always liked the weird ones. It was hard not to like him. Even if he did his best to brush people off, Andrea wasn't exactly blind to his actions. He certainly wasn't a secret prince charming or perfect man, but he was okay.

Minus every time he did paperwork that is. Andrea wanted to strangle him when he wrote everything in huge blocky letters and replaced c's with k's. His German heritage showed in his writing style and constant complaining about Americans.

"Andrea, darling, could you file this for me please?" A familiar and pleasant voice broke the orange woman from her thoughts, she looking up from her computer screen to focus on Milla. The Brazilian woman placing the envelope down onto the desk between them. "I'd appreciate it if you could-"

"You don't even need to finish that thought," The plump woman easily offered back with a wave of her hand. "I'm here to help you and Annoying Nein with paperwork, remember?"

Milla's lips briefly quirked upwards at the nickname Andrea had for Sasha before her expression dropped. "I know dear, but I always feel so guilty,"

Andrea gave a disapproving titter in response, quieting Milla's protests with a stern look. She already picking up the envelope and opening it, shuffling through its contents as she continued her reassurances. "Hush, I don't want to hear another word about it. I'm meant to be your paper pusher,"

"You're certainly more than that, dear." There was a pause as Milla added, "Thank you, for last week, I mean. I should have listened to you sooner,"

"You're my friend, Milla. I'm supposed to help you with that kind of stuff too," The other woman's expression softened a little as she spoke, "If I didn't give you a solid kick in the ass now and then, I'd be a terrible friend."

"You're far from it, Andrea," Milla's smile was gentle and warm, it making Andrea's gruffness ease a little more. "…Thank you, Milla." She shuffling paperwork for a moment before adding, "If you tell anyone else, I'll spike your coffee with red peppers,"

The taller woman laughed lightly at that, shaking her hair out of her eyes. "My lips are sealed," She miming a zipper going across her lips.

####

He could feel Milla lean into him, her slim hand finding his own as they walked together. The click of her heels step for step with his loafers, the two quiet content obviously. They had fallen back into their usual routine. Arrive at 9:40 AM, take a coffee break together, talk over current work load, go separate ways to actually work and meet up for lunch. They had vaguely kept that schedule for the past year, not including the days one of them was on a mission or they were out of country together.

This was how things were supposed to be. This was how his life was meant to be. The thought only made his gaze drift from where he was walking to the reflective glass that made up the office's windows. The black tint to them half obscuring what he saw, but still reflective enough to bounce back an image.

He unsure of why he felt so uneasy as he gazed at the reflection.

"We're going to be late if we keep lingering like this," Fell from his lips before he could stop it. He freeing himself from Milla's grip to stand on his own, he striding forward a few steps. "We should head inside,"

The woman faltered, a touch of confusion was clear before she stashed it away. "Ah, of course, dear," She letting her arms fall to her sides as she walked along behind Sasha.

###

Seeing a familiar number come up on his caller ID just made Eddie grin, he lazily stretching on his couch to pluck up the phone, conversationally speaking into it. "If you're callin' bout your dick, I'm gonna have to start chargin' a fee here, Sasha,"

The German man gave an annoyed sound at that, "I was not calling about that-"

"Mhmm, should I like inspect it for you or anythin'?"

"Riggs- don't make me come and find you," He sputtered back, feeling his cheeks go red as Eddie laughed lowly back. He liked the sound of the other man's laughter more than he realized. "Okay, okay- I give, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you are free this weekend for, a normal get together,"

"Damn, and here I was hopin' we'd continue discussin' your penis,"

"Oh shut up,"

"Okay- okay, shuttin' up,"

"Good, when are you free this weekend?"

There was silence for a moment as Sasha sighed. "Stop being a smartass,"

Eddie chuckled lowly at that, "I'm free on Saturday, any time you wanna meet up in particular?"

"I'm open to any time honestly. I just want out of the house,"

"Ey, I got like a perfect idea then. I know a sweet ass Vietnamese place near my place and we can catch a movie."

"We'd have to time it just right,"

"Naw, we can order out and head to the drive in movie theater, they don't give a shit if you bring food."

The German man found himself smiling somewhat back at that. "That would be perfect actually,"

"I'll pick the movie, if you don't mind," Eddie glanced over at the newspaper settled on his card/kitchen table. It wouldn't take very long to pick a movie.

"I have no preferences honestly. I'd enjoy some time away from everything," Even with things made up with Milla, Sasha still wanted some sort of space. It would still do them good not to be so glued to the hip. He had actually talked with Milla about it and she had been surprisingly supportive of the idea.

"Can do, I'll pick you up at 6,"

"Thank you, Eddie."

"No problem, man. I'll see you then," Eddie easily hung up at that, he chuckling quietly to himself as he lazily stretched back in his arm chair.

###

He rested his hands lightly against the steering wheel of his car as he waited. His gaze drifting across the starry sky as he licked his bottom lip. The roadie easily picking up on his favorite time wasting game, count the stars. He usually got up to 100 before he lost his spot and start again. He was only distracted from his counting quest when Sasha emerged from the restaurant, two plastic bags dangling off of his arms as he strode over to the car. "Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting for very long,"

Eddie grinned back at the German man as he reached out to take one of the bags. He resting it in his lap as he spoke. "Naw, man. Not that long, I was enjoyin' the stars,"

"It is nice out tonight,"

"Hell yeah, dude. S'why we're catchin' a fuckin' movie in the drive in theater,"

Sasha easily opened the passenger side door, he settling into the seat as he spoke. "I keep forgetting we have one of those in town,"

"You don't usually drive to this side of town, Sasha, far as I've gathered," Eddie easily offered back as he revved the engine of his hot rod, the vibration rolling through Sasha, from his toes to tips of his fingers. He was never quite sure what to make of it. He filed it away for later, balancing the styrofoam cup of pho in his lap as Eddie drove. The wind easily whipping around them, catching Eddie's hair in its grasp causing the dark hair to fly behind his head. Sasha watching it just as much as he did the lights blow past them. He able to tug himself away from watching the loose strands of hair dance through the air to speak.

"What movie are we seeing?"

"Oh, 'It's Drizzlin' Men', they're showing it again since its anniversary this week,"

Eddie was still full of surprises it seemed. "Really?"

"What were you expectin' an action movie?" His brows quirked up somewhat as he clearly saw where Sasha's mind went with this. Sasha wasn't about to lie, not when Eddie had to figured out by this point.

"To some degree, yes,"

"Welp, you're outta luck buster brown," Eddie offered back with an easy laugh as he slowed the car as they came up on a red light. He eventually coming to a stop as he continued speaking, "You better enjoy this classic or else,"

Sasha held a hand up in surrender, a warm smile tugging his lips. "Yes sir,"

"Just what I wanted to hear solider,"

Sasha just shook his head, chortling softly back as he shifted a little in his seat. "You are hard to predict, Mr. Riggs,"

"That's who I am, a wild card," He offered with a playful wink back. Sasha not quite sure why the wink made him smile so widely back. He could only shake his head a little in amusement as he glanced back out at the scenery around them. Late January already passing them by.

###

He moaned, head tilting back as his breath shook. Warm fingers coaxing across his lower belly. An equally warm mouth pressing low kisses against his exposed skin. Words were spoken, not that he could really make them out as a wet warmth enveloped his member. Sasha felt like he could burst right then-

Or he would have, if he hadn't woken up. The German man groaning as awareness hit him, his alarm clock blaring next to him as he squirmed where he lay. "Damn it,"

He lingered where he lay, uneasily trying to piece the dream back together, not really finding much help in it due to his member aching from the lack of attention. He let his hand drop, awkwardly brushing his finger along the head of his member. He just turning pink as he nervously wriggled out of his bed to make his way towards his bathroom. Roughly turning the hot water knob, hoping the water heater would kick in. He had work and he didn't want an awkward erection get in the way.

###

"Nice to see you kids getting along again," Che chuckled lowly back as he leaned against Sasha's office doorway. The German man giving an annoyed sort of grunt as he tried to wave Che away. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?"

"Yes, but that isn't about to stop me,"

"I wish it would." He grumped lowly back as he levitated his coffee over. Keeping it from bobbing in the air as he quickly scribbled a correction across the page in red ink. "I am filing a report on the rogue psychic trying to live in an opera house."

"Damn, that case?"

"Someone has to do the paperwork for it," Milla already had done her fair share of interviewing witnesses and apprehending the crazed man. She hadn't really needed Sasha's help, it was practically routine for the two by now to be able to squash most opposition. It made things considerably mundane in their everyday lives.

"Did you two do paper scissors again to decide who did what?"

Sasha gave Che an annoyed look. He wasn't in the mood for joking. "What do you want?"

"Damn- here I thought you and Milla being on good terms again would brighten you up a little,"

"I would be much brighter if you weren't harassing me in the middle of paperwork," Another pen levitated over, dropping easily into Sasha's open palm. He shifting his gaze back at the spread of paperwork on his desk.

"Well, I was going to ask what caused that-"

The German man stiffened up at that, cooly answering back. "Something that is strictly between Milla and myself,"

The usually unflappable Che looked somewhat annoyed at Sasha's rebuff. "Well, damn, Sasha. I'll leave you to being a cranky asshole then,"

"Damn it, Che-" He finally cast his gaze back up. "I just don't wish to talk about it while we're at work, it is a private matter between Milla and I." He hesitated as he toyed with his pen, "I will tell you later, in private when I feel ready,"

The hispanic man paused, clearly surprised by Sasha's reaction. "Oh, uh, okay." He far from eloquent as he tried to formulate a better response. "You know where to find me, Sasha."

"Yes, I do. I will tell you, just in my own time."

###

Sasha was wise enough to hide most of his case files when Razputin made his way into the main sector of the building. It hard to miss the gangly 12 year old as he bustled around HQ with so much psychic energy. If he didn't have it contained Sasha would have chided him about focus and training. The boy was growing into an exceptional psychic, one that out shined other young agents in his training bracket by far. He excelled at every psychic hurdle they threw at him, he could sort mail and deliver coffee much quicker than most could by this point. Some speculated he could teleport. If he could, Sasha would have a long talk with Ford about it. Razputin was much too young to be able to teleport yet, especially with his energetic tendencies to butt into situations he didn't belong in.

"Sasha!" Was the only warning he got as his office door bounced open, an energetic 12 year old grinning back at him as he pushed the mail cart in. Already having Sasha's mail in hand having sorted it out whilst in the hallway.

"Razputin, having a good day I see,"

"Of course I am! I'm gonna be out of the mail room soon,"

"That you are, congratulations,"

"Sure, I'm gonna be helping Andrea and everyone at the filing station out- but still! Finally out of the mail room," Sasha did his best to pretend he wasn't seeing Raz doing a dance in his office. Little 'eh eh eh' noises going along with the routine.

"And taking a practical exam to see where your schooling is," He stated simply back as he flipped through the file he had in hand.

That successfully made the pre-teen wilt. "Don't remind me,"

"Haven't you been taking your studies seriously?"

"I have- just, c'mon, there is so much cooler stuff to do!" He fell into a pose Sasha remembered only ever doing once, yet became his apparent trademark in True Psychic Tales. He needed to talk to Truman about somehow banning those things from the office. It was embarrassing to see co-workers reading it when they were supposed to be working. Razputin only made things worse by encouraging talk about those things in the mail room. Sasha wasn't blind, he had seen those comics get quickly tucked away at his entry to the mail room these days.

"Such as?"

"Well, you know!"

"Yes, I do, but you should know nothing should take precedence over your studies,"

"Hey, hey- I study," Was the boy's defense as he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to play it cool though he was clearly feeling defensive.

"Mhmm," He glanced over at the mail Raz had brought. The German man reaching over to pick it up and skim through it. Unsurprised at the bills, invoices and handful of notes from Andrea. "I'll believe that when I see you with a text book young man. I hold you to the same standards I hold Lili,"

"Aww c'mon, Sasha. I already have all the other stuff to do!"

"Lili is an honors student and helps around the office on weekends, takes care of her garden, the house when Truman isn't there and her dog, I believe she has more to focus on then you do," Somewhat of an exaggeration, but the two had a natural completive edge when around each other. Dating or not, Raz and Lili excelled when challenging one another. Sasha enjoyed pitting the two together, it created a healthy atmosphere after all.

Raz simply pouted back at that, "I really hate it when you do that," He huffed back showing his age very clearly with pouting.

"So you say, yet you're here," He set down the invoices, sorting out his mail before coming upon an unmarked envelope. His brow quirking upwards as he examined the white paper, turning it over in his hands. Equally surprised when he saw the imprint of lips on the envelope flap. It most certainly a shade Milla wore on a regular basis. Sasha could certainly attest to that with the kisses she liked leaving on his lapels. (Did she not know how expensive those were to clean?)

"Oooh,"

Sasha had nearly forgotten about his would be audience as his gaze snapped from the envelope to the pre-teen and his mail cart. "I believe you have letters to be delivering Razputin,"

"Well, yeah, but- you and Milla are sending love letters to each other!" He clapped his hands excitedly together.

"Love letters? Honestly?"

"Duh, look at that lipstick mark! So a love letter! Lili does that,"

Sasha paused for a moment, eyes narrowing behind his sunglasses, his protective streak rising for the pre-teen girl as he spoke. "Does she now?"

"Er- I, uh, mean." The acrobat floundered in the least graceful way imaginable. "We only text each other, no make outs happens when no one is around, I swear-" He waved his hands in the air wildly as if trying to fend himself from a man eating animal. Sasha made a mental note to warn Truman Lili and Razputin needed a chaperone more often, they weren't as innocent as they appeared apparently.

"Razputin, leave, you are digging yourself into a hole you cannot escape from," The German man dryly offered back, his glare far from softening as he watched Raz scramble back to his cart and out of the office. He disappearing down the hall as quickly as he came, clearly taking Sasha's threat seriously. Sasha merely closed the door with a quick tug of TK. He opening the envelope as he relaxed back into his chair. He almost having to smile at the cheesiness of it all, she sent him an invitation to come to her place tonight.

####

He kissed her, fingers gently tangling into her hair. He pulling back to offer Milla a slim smile in turn. His heart was beating faster than he expected for such a small kiss. He felt skittish, like he should't be touching her. Like he didn't belong.

"Ah," slipped from Milla's lips, surprise clear on her features as she reached up to hold onto his cheek. "What inspired this, darling?"

"Nothing, I am, just feeling affectionate today," His words earned a kiss from the woman, Milla pressing against the German man happily. The two comfortably shifting on the couch, Milla resting her head against Sasha's arm as he curled an arm around her waist. Sasha barely registering the sound of the television in the background as he concentrated on the weight of Milla pressed against him. It making him feel nervous in a way he was far too used to.

"Darling, how about, you spend the night?" She said easily back to him, smiling warmly at the German man. He able to feel his cheeks go red at the unspoken implications of her words. He able to keep his hand from shaking as he found her hand. Sasha lacing his fingers with Milla's own as he returned the smile.

"Certainly, there is nothing else I'd rather do."

Milla's smile tempered slightly at his tense words, she simply squeezing his hand back. She only moving to lightly rise from the couch, pulling the German man with her as she stood up. "Lets go to my room, darling,"

The nervous energy returned at that, he holding onto her hand a little tighter in turn. Some part of him felt queasy, it mingling with the nervousness in a way that Sasha couldn't really handle.

###

Still working on a update schedule, watch as I never master how to plan these things out, ffft.